Envelope making machine



Feb. 27, 1962 H. F. AFFELDER 3,023,128

ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. f/AAWY FAFFEL DER Arman/5x5 Feb. 27, 1962 H- F. AFFELDER ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1957 Y INVENTOR. fikmyfiflr'raam Arra sys Feb. 27, 1962 H. F. AFFELDER ENVELOPE MAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 27, 1957 Uited States Patent 3,023,128 ENVELQPE MAKING MAC 2: Harry E. Afielder, dhaher Heights, tlhio, assignor to The Wolf Detroit Envelope Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 699,402

a Claims. {CL 117--111) The present invention relates to machines such as envelope making machines and, more particularly, to the mechanism in such a machine for applying adhesive to the flap and/or body of a sheet-like article such as an envelope.

In machines for manufacturing envelopes, a mechanism is provided for applying an adhesive to the envelope so that the flap may be sealed to the body of the envelope when folded in a conventional manner. When the adhesive which is applied is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, strips of adhesive are conventionally applied to both the flap and the body portion of the envelope engaged by the liap when the latter is folded, so that the strips mate with each other on folding.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism and method for applying a thin and even strip of sealing material, particularly a pressure-sensitive material such as latex, to an article, particularly to an envelope being formed by a machine embodying the mechanism or method, with the surface of the envelope or similar article, which is receiving the latex facing upwardly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for applying an adhesive, particularly a pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as latex, to an envelope or other sheet-like article in which the ad hesive is picked up from a fountain by a roll without objectionable churning or foaming of the adhesive in the fountain and is applied evenly and thinly to the receiving surface or surfaces.

Yet another object is to provide a new and improved machine including mechanism for applying an adhesive, particularly pressure-sensitive latex, to articles, such as envelopes; feed means for moving the articles or envelopes past the adhesive applying mechanism at predetermined intervals to receive adhesive from segmented applicators rotated in timed relation to the delivery of articles by said feed means; and a fountain roll which rotates in the fountain to pick up adhesive to be transferred to the applicators, the machine being so constructedand arranged that the applicators are started and stopped with the feed means for the articles and so that the fountain roll may be kept running when the applicators and feed means are stopped.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a segmented applicator for use in the type of machine referred to which is so constructed that latex does not build up on either the leadin or the trailing edges of the segments of the applicator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an envelope making machine and showing the mechanism for applying an adhesive to the flap and body of an envelope being formed;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the portion of the maclr'ne shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 looking from approximately line 3-3 of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a second view taken approximately along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a generally schematic view of portions of a machine embodying the present invention; and,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an envelope and showing the adhesive strips applied by the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1-4.

While the present invention is susceptible of use in, or independently of, various machines for performing other operations on an article, such as an envelope or a sheet of paper, to which adhesive is to be applied, it is particularly useful when embodied in a machine for making an envelope having a flap and a body portion to be engaged upon the folding of the flap and both of which are to be coated with an adhesive, particularly a pressure-sensitive latex. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is therefore shown as comprising part of an envelope making machine.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. l-4 show a portion of a machine for making an envelope 10, which may be of the type illustrated in FIG. 6. The envelope it as shown in FIG. 6, has a flap 11 foldaole to close the open end of the envelope and which, when folded, engages a portion of the body of the envelope 10. In the illustrated envelope, the flap is provided with a strip of ad hesive 12 which, when the flap is folded, engages a second strip of adhesive 13 applied to the body of the envelope. The portion of the machine shown in FIGS. 1-4 is the portion of the machine which is utilized to apply the spaced strips of adhesive 12, 13 to the envelope 10 as it is carried through the machine in the position shown in FIG. 6 with the underside of the fiap facing upwardly. The mechanism of the present invention is particularly useful when applying latex and the invention will be described with reference to latex with the understanding that other adhesives may also be applied therewith.

Referring to FIG. 2, the envelopes which are to be coated with latex are moved past an adhesive-applying mechanism 15, hereinafter referred to as a latexing mechanism, by means of a pair of cooperating endless belts 17, 13 having horizontal, envelope conveying runs 19 which are adjacent each other and between which the envelopes to be carried to the latexing mechanism are positioned. The horizontal runs '19 are disposed between side frames 21, 22 of the framework of the machine and are pressed toward engagement with each other by parallel rolls of spring-biased rollers 23, 24 respectively disposed above and below the runs 19 of the endless belts 17 and 13. The rollers 23, 24 ur e the runs 19 together to grasp the envelopes disposed therebetween and, as the belts are advanced, the envelopes are carried with the belts so that the envelopes move to and through the latexing mechanism 15. Each envelope extends from the belts 17, 18 toward the side frame 22 and the portions thereof remote from the belts 17, 18, which portions include the flap portion of the envelope, ride on either one of, or both of a pair of horizontal guide rails 26 disposed between and parallel to the side frames 21, 22.

The rowsof rollers 23, 24 terminate beyond the exit side of the latexing mechanism 15 and the belts 17, 13, I

after reachingthe end of the rows of rollers 23, 24,'pass around respective rollers to reverse the directions of movements of the belts with the belt 17 moving upwardly so that the return run thereof is disposed above the en velope conveying run 19 of the belt 17 and with the belt 18 reversing downwardly so that the returnjrun is disposed below the envelope conveying run 19 of the belt 18. The belts 17, 18 are driven from the main drive for the machine which includes a drive shaft 28 disposed between the side frames 21, 22 and extending parallel thereto. I

The envelope to which adhesive is to be applied is positioned between the belts 17 and 18 so that the underside of the flap 11 which is to have adhesive applied thereto, is facing upwardly and the envelope is carried into the adhesive applying mechanism 15 in this position. As the envelope approaches the latexing mechanism 15, it rides up onto flat, blade-like guide fingers 3t), 31 supported on a bar 32 extending between the side frames 21, 22; the fingers 3t 31 move the flap t1 and body portions of the envelope which are to have adhesive applied thereto upwardly while the adhesive strips are applied thereto by applicators 34, 35 which cooperate respectively with the fingers 30, 31.

The applicators 34, 35 are preferably segmented applicators which are fixed to a shaft 36 journalled in spaced plates 37, 38. The plate 37 is supported on the side frame 22 while the plate 38 is disposed parallel to the plate 37 but spaced therefrom in a direction of the side frame 21 and is supported in a cantilevered manner from a plate member 39 mounted on a table 40 fixed to the side frame 22 and extending outwardly thereof in a direction away from the side frame 21. The plate member 39 extends parallel to the plates 37, 38 and is spaced outwardly of the plate 37.

The applicators 34, 35 are rotated in timed relationship to the passage of the envelopes carried by the belts 17, 18. The shaft 36 to which the applicators are fixed is rotated from the drive shaft 28 which has a bevel gear 42 fixed thereto. The bevel gear 42 meshes with a bevel gear 43 fixed to the end of a shaft 44 journalled in the side frame 22 and extending parallel to the shaft 36. The end of the shaft 44 remote from bevel gear 43 has a sprocket 45 fixed thereto, which sprocket engages and drives a chain 46. The chain 46 passes around a sprocket 47 fixed to a drive member 50 journalled in the plate 39 coaxially with the shaft 36 and connected to the shaft 36 to drive the latter.

The applicators 34, 35 are wheel-like members and each has a segment 52 thereon, the periphery of which segment is the segment of a cylinder and which, upon rotation of the applicator, is adapted to roll on and apply a strip of latex to the envelope passing between the applicator and the guide fingers. The length of the segment 52 corresponds to the length of the strip of latex to be applied to the envelope and the envelope is guided by the fingers 30, 31 so that it is moving tangentially to the circle defined by the outer periphery of the segment 52 asthe latter is rotated when the envelope moves past the applicator.

The fingers 30, 31 guide the envelopes in a path approximately tangential to the lowermost point of the path of the segments 52 and the ends of the fingers terminate approximately at the tangential line to the point on the feed side of the applicator.

Latex is applied to the peripheral face 52a of each segment 52 by a respective cooperating transfer roll 53. It is to be understood that a single transfer roll may be utilized if desired. The rolls 53 for applying latex to the segments 52 of the applicators 34, 35 are disposed above the applicators 34, 35 and are fixed to a shaft 55 extending between the plates 37, 38 and supported at the opposite end portions thereof by hearing blocks 56, 57. The bearing blocks 56, 57 are respectively carried by slide members 59, 60 which support the shaft 55 for vertical adjustment relative to the plates 37, 38, 39. The slide member 60 comprises a slide portion received in a rectangular opening 61 in the plate 38. The rectangular opening 61 is closed by a bridging member 62 fixed to the top of the plate 38 and the slide member 69 is adjustahly supported from the bridging member 62 by studs fixed to the bearing member. The studs extend through the bridging member 62 and have nuts threaded on their upper end to adjust the vertical position of the shaft 55.

The slide member 59 is supported in an opening in the plate 37 similar to the opening 61. The structure for supporting the slide member 59 and adjusting it vertically is substantially the same as that for supporting the slide member 66, and will not be again described.

The transfer rolls 53 pick up the latex to be applied to the segments 52 from a fountain roll 65 with which the rolls 53 have running engagement. The fountain roll 65 is fixed to a shaft 66 journally supported by the plates 37, 38 parallel to and horizontally spaced from the shaft 55 supporting the transfer rolls. The shaft 66 has an end portion which extends through the plate 37 and which is engaged by a drive sleeve 67 journalled in the plate member 39. The sleeve 67 has a portion extending outwardly of the plate 39 which portion mounts a spur gear 68 and is driven to rotate the fountain roll 65.

The fountain roll 65 rotates in a receptacle or fountain 70 supported below the fountain roll 65 and filled with the latex to be applied to the envelope. Rotation of the fountain roll 65 causes the roll to pick up latex from the fountain and to carry the latex to the transfer rolls 53 which transfer the latex from the fountain roll to the applicators. The amount of latex picked up by the fountain roll is determined by a doctoring roll 72 which rolls against the surface of the fountain roll 65 and is supported on a shaft 73 which is horizontally spaced from the shaft 66 for the fountain roll 65 and engages the portion of the fountain roll which is leaving the fountan 79 as the roll 65 is rotated. The doctoring roll 72 is supported for adjusting movement toward and away from the fountain roll and is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the fountain roll 65. To effect rotation of the doctoring roll, the shaft 73 for the roll is driven by a drive sleeve 74 journalled in the plate member 39. The sleeve 74 has a gear 75 on its outer end which is continuously in mesh with the gear 68. The drive sleeve 67 is driven to rotate the fountain roll 65 and the doctoring roll 72 by a chain 77 which engages a sprocket 78 fixed to the drive sleeve 67 outwardly of the gear 68. The chain 77 is driven by a sprocket 80 fixed to the output shaft of a gear reduction unit driven by a motor 81 mounted on the table 40.

The drive sleeve 67 also effects the driving of the transfer rolls 53. vA sprocket 82 is fixed to the drive sleeve 67 intermediate the sprocket 78 and the gear 68 and drives a chain 83 which meshes with a sprocket 84 fixed to a drive member 85 journally supported in a slide member 86 and disposed coaxially with the shaft 55 and connected to the latter to drive the shaft upon rotation of the drive member 85. It can be seen that, since the transfer rolls are driven by chain drive from the drive sleeve 67, the transfer rolls 53 rotate in the same direction as the fountain roll 65.

The slide member 86 is supported for vertical adjustment by the plate member 39 in the same manner as the slide member 60 is supported by the plate 38 and the drive member extends through aligned bores in the slide members 59, 86 to connect with the shaft 55 to drive the latter.

The applicators 34, 35 and the transfer rolls are rotated in the same direction and the latex is picked up by the applicator when the segments 52 thereof roll into engagement with the transfer rolls 53. By referring to FIG. 4 it can be seen that the latex being transferred to the applicators 52 is in the form of rotating layers carried by the portion of the fountain roll between the reservoir and its point of contact with the transfer rolls and by the transfer roll between its point of contact with the fountain roll and the applicators 34, 35. The bulk of the latex which is not picked up by the applicator from the roll 53 is transferred from the transfer rolls 53 baclr to the fountain roll 65 and is returned to the fountain.

The rotation of the motor 81 and the drive for effecting rotation of the fountain roll from the motor causes the fountain roll to rotate at a speed which is slow enough to prevent churning and objectionable foaming of the latex in the fountain. This is particularly important when latex is being applied, since latex is subject to churning and foaming when used with conventional applicators. The layer of latex picked up by the fountain roll 65 is a relatively thick layer and this layer is thinned when it is transferred from the fountain roll 65 to the segments 52 of the applicators. To effect a thinning of the latex layer, the drive to the transfer rolls 53 effects rotation of the transfer rolls at a peripheral speed which is substantially greater than the peripheral speed of the fountain roll 65. It will be noted that the transfer rolls 53 are driven at a substantially higher rate of speed than the fountain roll by reason of the chain drive therebetween and the increase in speed is more than sufficient to compensate for the smaller diameter of the transfer rolls as compared to the fountain rolls. It willbe understood that the peripheral speed of the transfer rolls 53, as compared to the peripheral speed of the segments of applicators 34, 35 is not such as to effect a thickening of the layer when the latex is transferred from the transfer rolls to the segments 52 of the applicators.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the applicators 34, 35 are driven from the main drive for the machine and the applicators are rotated in timed relation to the advancement of envelopes or articles to'the latexing mechanism so that the leading edges of the segments 52 will engage the envelopes as they reach the end of the fingers 30, 31 and the segment will roll thereon as the envelope moves thereby 'to apply the latex to the envelope.

The mechanism for feeding the envelopes to the belts 17, I18 so that they arrive at the latexing mechanism at per odic intervals, per se, forms no part of the present invention and has not, therefore, been shown nor described in detail. Such a mechanism, however, has been generally indicated in FIG. 5 as forming a part of the machine embodying the adhesive applying mechanism and has been designated by the reference character A. This mechanism may be any conventional construction for delivering sheet-like articles or envelopes into the ma chine at periodic intervals in timed relation to the operation of the machine and may be similar to the feeding mechanism shown and described in US. Patent 2,748,025 to Sackett. Reference is made to the aforesaid patent for a complete description of the construction and manner of operation of one type of feeding mechanism which can be utilized, but for present purposes, suffice it to say that the feeding mechanism includes a reciprocating member 9t; which is driven from the main drive of the machine by reciprocating drive means 91 to kick envelopes or sheets onto the conveying belts at definite points in the cycle of operation of the machine. This reciprocating member and a motor 92 for effecting the drive of the main drive shaft, which in turn effects the operation of the feeding mechanism and the applicators, are shown schematically in FIG. 5. It will be noted that the feeding mechanism might feed the envelopes directly to the belts 17, 18 of the iatexing mechanism without any intervening operation being performed upon the envelope or the feeding mechanism may feed a sheet which is folded in the machine in accordance with conventional methods prior to its arrival at the latexing mechanism.

The applicators 34, 35 are rotated in the illustrated machine in timed relation to the feeding mechanism through the main drive shaft and when the feeding mechanism is stopped or started the applicators 34, 35 also start or stop to maintain the timed relationship between the feeding mechanism and the applicators. The fountain roll 65, however, is not automatically stopped when the feeding mechanism and applicators are stopped since it is driven by a separate motor 81 and the rotation of the fountain roll in the latex maintains the latex in proper condition for application to the envelopes.

if the machine is stopped with the segments 52 in engagement with the transfer rolls 53, the machine is preferably jogged until the segments lose engagement 6 with the transfer rolls so that the latex picked upby the fountain roll when the machine is stopped with the fountain roll running will be returned to the reservoir and will not build up on the segments of the applicators 34, 35. It will be noted that the doctoring roll rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the fountain roll and limits the thickness of the layer leaving the fountain on the fountain roll. I

During the operation of the machine it has been found that quantities of latex tend to build up on the leading and trailing edges of the segments 52. It has been found that this buildup can be prevented if the leading and trailing ends of the segments are given a rake .so that the ends are inclined inwardly of the segment with respect to the radii of the applicators passing through the leading and trailing edges of the segment. This rake may be seenby reference to FIG. 4.

The applicators 34, 35 have been illustrated as receiving latex or other adhesive from individual transfer rolls 53. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a single transfer roll could be substituted for the pair of transfer rolls. Similarly, while the applicators 34, 35 are preferably segmented applicators, there may be installations where it is desired to use a nonsegmented type applicator.

After the envelopes have adhesive applied thereto, they are received by a conventional drier D which dries the strips of adhesive.

' It can now be seen that the objects heretofore enumerated have been accomplished and that the present invention provides in a machine for operating upon an article, a mechanism for applying strips of adhesive to the article, which adhesive may be latex, with the machine being so constructed and arranged that the adhesive may be picked up from a fountain and applied to an upwardly facing surface of the article without creating the detrimental conditions experienced by the prior art. The present invention further provides a machine where the applicators, preferably segmented, are started and stopped with the means for effecting delivery of envelopes to the adhesive applying mechanism at predetermined intervals and so that the reservoir of adhesive is continually agitated, even though the applicators are stopped.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in considerable detail, further modifications, constructions, and arrangements will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is hereby my intention to cover all such modifications, constructions and arrangements that fall within the ability of those skilled in the art and within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a fountain providing a reservoir, pressure-sensitive material in said reservoir, said material being subject to foaming when churned, a fountain roll rotatable in said reservoir to form a layer of pressure-sensitive material on the roll, a rotatable applicator adapted to roll on an article moving relative thereto to apply pressure-sensitive material thereto, means for rotating said applicator, roll means having running engagement with said fountain roll and with said applicator for transferring the pressure-sensitive material from said fountain roll to said applicator and comprising a transfer roll, means for driving said fountain roll in the same direction as said applicator and at a speed insufficient to effect churning and foaming of the pressuresensitive material in said fountain, means for driving said transfer roll in the same direction as the fountain roll and at a rate that the peripheral speed thereof is higher than the peripheral speed of the fountain roll to efliect a thinning of the layer of pressure-sensitive material transferred from the fountain roll to the transfer roll, and means disposed below said applicator for moving sheet-like articles past said applicator along a path where said applicator rolls on the upwardly facing surface of each of the articles spasms as it passes the applicator to apply a strip of pressuresensitive material thereto.

2. In a machine of the character described, a fountain providing a reservoir of adhesive, a fountain roll rotatable in said fountain to form a layer of adhesive therefrom, an applicator for receiving adhesive picked up by said fountain roll and for applying the same to an article moving in timed relation thereto, said applicator being adapted to roll on the article, delivery means effecting delivery of articles to said applicator, means for effecting operation of said applicator and said delivery means in timed relation to deliver articles to said applicator in timed relationship to the rotation thereof, and means operable independently of the operation of said applicator for driving said fountain roll whereby said applicator and delivery means may be started and stopped together to maintain the timing therebetween without affecting the rotation of said fountain roll.

3. In a machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said applicator comprises a rotating cylindrical segment.

4. In a machine of the character described, a fountain providing a reservoir of pressure-sensitive material, a fountain roll rotatable in said fountain to form a layer of pressure-sensitive material on the roll, a rotatable applicator for receiving pressure-sensitive material picked up by said fountain roll and for applying the same to an article moving relative thereto, transfer roll means rotated in the same direction as said applicator to transfer the pressuresensitive material from fountain roll to said applicator, means for driving said transfer roll means at a higher peripheral speed than the peripheral speed of the fountain roll, said applicator being adapted to roll on the article, delivery means for effecting delivery of articles to the lower side of said applicator in timed relation to the rotation of said applicator, means for driving said delivery means and for effecting the rotation of said applicator in timed relationship to each other, and drive means operable independently of the operation of said applicator for driving said fountain roll in the same direction as said applicator, whereby said applicator and delivery means may be started and stopped simultaneously to maintain the timing therebetween without affecting the rotation of said fountain roll.

5. in a machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said applicator comprises a cylindrical segment and said delivery means efifects delivery of said articles tangentially to substantially the lowermost point of the path of the segment substantially as the leading edge thereof reaches its lowermost position.

6. In a machine of the character described, a fountain providing a reservoir of pressure-sensitive material, a fountain roll having a portion rotatable in said fountain to form a layer of pressure-sensitive material on the roll, a rotatable doctor roll running in the opposite direction to said fountain roll and spaced therefrom to control the thickness of said layer, applicator means including a rotatable applicator for-receiving pressure-sensitive mate rial picked up by said fountain roll and for applying the same to an article moving relative thereto, transfer roll means rotated in the same direction as said applicator to transfer the pressure-sensitive material from fountain roll to said applicator, means for driving said transfer roll means at a higher peripheral speed than the peripheral speed of the fountain roll, said applicator being adapted to roll on the article, delivery means for effecting delivery of articles to the lower side of said applicator in timed relation to the rotation of said applicator, means for driving said delivery means and for effecting rotation of said applicator in the same direction as said fountain roll, and drive means operable independently of the operation of said applicator for driving said fountain roll in the same direction as said applicator, whereby said applicator and delivery means may be started and stopped simultaneously to maintain the timing therebetween without affecting the rotation of said fountain roll.

7. In a' machine of the character described, the structure as defined in claim 6 wherein said applicator means comprises a pair of applicators rotated as a unit for applying spaced strips of pressure-sensitive material and said transfer roll means comprises a pair of rolls each engaging said fountain roll and a respective one of said applicators.

8. The method of applying pressure-sensitive material, which is subject to foaming when churned, to a sheet which comprises the steps of providing a reservoir of material and rotating a first member through the material in the reservoir at a speed, which speed is insufiicient to effect churning and foaming, to coat the surface of the member with the material to move the material from the reservoir, picking up the coating of material from the first member with a second member rotating in the same direction as the first member, thinning the coating by running the second member at a higher peripheral speed than the peripheral speed of the first member, and applying the thinned coating to a rotating applicator which engages the upper side of said sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

8. THE METHOD OF APPLYING PRESSURE-SENSITIVE MATERIAL, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO FOAMING WHEN CHURNED, TO A SHEET WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A RESERVOIR OF MATERIAL AND ROTATING A FIRST MEMBER THROUGH THE MATERIAL IN THE RESERVOIR AT A SPEED, WHICH SPEED IS INSUFFICIENT TO EFFECT CHURNING AND FOAMING, TO COAT THE SURFACE OF THE MEMBER WITH THE MATERIAL TO MOVE THE MATERIAL FROM THE RESERVOIR, PICKING UP THE COATING OF MATERIAL FROM THE FIRST MEMBER WITH A SECOND MEMBER RATATING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE FIRST MEMBER, THINNING THE COATING BY RUNNING THE SECOND MEMBER AT A HIGHER PEREPHERAL SPEED THAN THE PERIPHERAL SPEED OF THE FIRST MEMBER AND APPLYING THE THINNED COATING TO A ROTATING APPLICATOR WHICH ENGAGES THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID SHEET. 